CDC Recommends Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Booster Dose

Many Alaskans who are at the highest risk for COVID-19 are now eligible to receive a Pfizer booster dose. The CDC made the final recommendation for certain populations to receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 Vaccine at least six months after the second dose of their Pfizer vaccine series to help increase their protection.

The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. Data shows they are highly effective protection against hospitalizations and severe outcomes for people who are fully vaccinated.

Scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines also continue to closely watch for signs of waning immunity, how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differs across age groups and risk factors.  This data led the CDC to recommend booster doses.

Who Should get a COVID-19 Booster Vaccine According to CDC Recommendations? 

CDC recommends that the following populations should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BionNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series:

• people 65 years and older and residents 18 years and older in long-term care settings;
• people aged 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions.

CDC recommends that the following populations may receive a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series:

• people 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions, based on their individual benefits and risks; and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting, based on their individual benefits and risks.  This includes first responders (healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff); education staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers); workers in food and agriculture, manufacturing, corrections, U.S. Postal Service, public transit and grocery store workers.

Please talk to your healthcare provider about whether getting a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 booster shot is appropriate for you. Learn more at covidvax.alaska.gov.

Where can I get my vaccine booster?

• Set an appointment with your primary care provider.  A list of vaccine providers is included at the end of the page.

• Set an appointment at the SPH Test and Vaccine site starting Monday, Sept. 27th at https://www.sphosp.org/. 
  (NOTE – due to ongoing construction, space and appointment availability are limited at this location, so although walk-ins are accepted on a space available basis, it will be a little tight for a few days).

• Attend the mass Pfizer booster vaccination event on Friday, October 15^th at Homer High School, 9 am to 1 pm. Appointments are required.  Appointments can be reserved by going to https://www.sphosp.org/.

What if I had the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine?  Should I get a booster too?

Those who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not authorized for booster at this time.  Pfizer was the first vaccine to be authorized, and therefore its data on its ongoing effectiveness was also available first.  Pfizer booster doses are only recommended for certain individuals who have received 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine. 

There is not enough information yet available for the CDC to make additional recommendations for other populations or people who got the Moderna or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  Guidance is still forthcoming about boosters for those vaccines, as well as the safety of mixing different vaccines.